Simulated bowling game
First Claim
1. A simulated bowling game, comprising:
- means to provide a simulated ball and a simulated bowling alley having a starting line and a set of simulated bowling pins;
random signal means for generating random binary bits;
ball path selection means which comprises an initial ball position selector, ball position encoder means responsive to said initial ball position selector for providing an initial ball position signal, a ball direction selector, and ball direction encoder means responsive to said ball direction selector providing a ball direction signal;
wherein said ball position encoder means includes means for generating a horizontal ball displacement signal in response to said ball direction signal and said random signal means; and
adder means for adding said initial ball position signal and said horizontal ball displacement signal to provide a succession of horizontal ball position signals;
ball position means for simulating movement of said simulated ball down said simulated bowling alley from said starting line to said set of simulated bowling pins, wherein said ball position means includes horizontal ball position means and vertical ball position means, said horizontal ball position means computing a horizontal position for said ball in response to said ball path selection means and said random signal means for each of a plurality of positions along said bowling alley, and wherein said vertical ball position means providing successive vertical ball position signals, said ball position means being responsive to said ball path selection means and said random signal means for determining the path of the ball;
display means for displaying the position of said simulated ball as it moves down said simulated bowling alley, said display means including a plurality of lamps arranged in a plurality of rows, representing vertical ball position, and a plurality of columns, representing horizontal ball position, simulating said bowling alley, and circuit means responsive to said horizontal ball position signals and said vertical ball position signals for successively energizing a lamp in a column selected by one of said horizontal ball position signals and a row selected by one of said vertical ball position signals in sequence to display the simulated movement of said simulated ball down said simulated bowling alley from said starting line to said set of simulated pins;
step generator means for synchronizing said horizontal ball position means and said vertical ball position means, said step generator means providing step signals defining successive step intervals and vertical ball position means providing successive vertical ball position signals in successive step intervals, said step signals synchronizing said horizontal ball displacement generator means with said vertical ball position means whereby each successive horizontal ball position signal will coincide with a vertical ball position to signify horizontal and vertical positions of a simulated ball in said simulated alley;
pin disposition means enabled by a said step signal corresponding with the time of arrival of said ball with said set of bowling pins for determining which of said set of bowling pins will fall; and
random number generator means providing a random number signal at said time of arrival, and wherein said pin disposition means is responsive to said horizontal ball position signal and said random number signal provided upon the enablement of said pin disposition means.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A simulated bowling game includes solid state logic circuitry for simulating the position of a bowling ball as it is rolled down the alley, for determining the simulated disposition of the pins upon impact by the ball, and for computing the score of each player after each simulated roll of the ball. In order to imitate the roll of a ball, a player selects an initial ball position and an initial ball direction. Encoders provide signals which correspond to the selected initial ball position and direction, and a random number generator provides a spin factor signal. A horizontal displacement signal is computed from the ball direction signal and the spin factor signal and is added to the ball position signal to establish the horizontal ball position at successive vertical positions along the alley. Pin disposition logic determines which pins will fall upon impact by the ball and is responsive to the horizontal position of the ball as it enters the pin target area, the ball direction signal, the previous status of the pins, and a random signal from the random number generator. A pair of pin status registers are provided for storing the current status of the pins and registering changes as pins are indicated as fallen by the pin disposition logic. A scoring pulse train generator is responsive to one of the pin status registers for providing a single pulse chain, a double pulse train, and a triple pulse train, which include, respectively, one, two, and three pulses for each fallen pin; the pulse trains are employed in the scoring logic. A pin display includes lamps which indicate which of the pins is standing; these lamps are controlled by signals from the other status register to indicate the current pin status. After a ball reaches the pin target area, a ball return sequence is established showing the ball returning down the alley back to the starting line.
29 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A simulated bowling game, comprising:
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means to provide a simulated ball and a simulated bowling alley having a starting line and a set of simulated bowling pins; random signal means for generating random binary bits; ball path selection means which comprises an initial ball position selector, ball position encoder means responsive to said initial ball position selector for providing an initial ball position signal, a ball direction selector, and ball direction encoder means responsive to said ball direction selector providing a ball direction signal;
wherein said ball position encoder means includes means for generating a horizontal ball displacement signal in response to said ball direction signal and said random signal means; and
adder means for adding said initial ball position signal and said horizontal ball displacement signal to provide a succession of horizontal ball position signals;ball position means for simulating movement of said simulated ball down said simulated bowling alley from said starting line to said set of simulated bowling pins, wherein said ball position means includes horizontal ball position means and vertical ball position means, said horizontal ball position means computing a horizontal position for said ball in response to said ball path selection means and said random signal means for each of a plurality of positions along said bowling alley, and wherein said vertical ball position means providing successive vertical ball position signals, said ball position means being responsive to said ball path selection means and said random signal means for determining the path of the ball; display means for displaying the position of said simulated ball as it moves down said simulated bowling alley, said display means including a plurality of lamps arranged in a plurality of rows, representing vertical ball position, and a plurality of columns, representing horizontal ball position, simulating said bowling alley, and circuit means responsive to said horizontal ball position signals and said vertical ball position signals for successively energizing a lamp in a column selected by one of said horizontal ball position signals and a row selected by one of said vertical ball position signals in sequence to display the simulated movement of said simulated ball down said simulated bowling alley from said starting line to said set of simulated pins; step generator means for synchronizing said horizontal ball position means and said vertical ball position means, said step generator means providing step signals defining successive step intervals and vertical ball position means providing successive vertical ball position signals in successive step intervals, said step signals synchronizing said horizontal ball displacement generator means with said vertical ball position means whereby each successive horizontal ball position signal will coincide with a vertical ball position to signify horizontal and vertical positions of a simulated ball in said simulated alley; pin disposition means enabled by a said step signal corresponding with the time of arrival of said ball with said set of bowling pins for determining which of said set of bowling pins will fall; and random number generator means providing a random number signal at said time of arrival, and wherein said pin disposition means is responsive to said horizontal ball position signal and said random number signal provided upon the enablement of said pin disposition means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification